This is a list of characteristics made by sociologists about the state of America’s youth in relation to religion. This is a helpful resource for youth ministers and those involved in youth ministry. Some of the things they noted on the list is quite surprising. Though, just thinking about the youth these days, just shouldn’t surprise me. Religion at large as observed by sociology of religion.

1) U.S. youth are not irreligious or a-religious. They are religious.

Religion is a significant presence in many young adults. Most have not drop out of their religious congregations. They are regular participants. Many asserts faith is important in their lives and have influence on their moral views. But they have a hard time articulating their beliefs. Categories they have are influenced by culture.

2) Very few youth are not involved in a spiritual quest.

Most teenagers allow the right to others to pursue quest, but very few do it themselves.

3) Teenage religiosity is conventional.

They are not rebellious. They are quite content to follow in their parents footsteps. Most youth feel positive about religion. They talk about the positive and benefits to individual and society.
When it comes to teenagers and religion, they are happy to go along with the flow.

4) Youth are not religiously diverse.

The diversity represented by teens and adults right now is same as it was in prior generations. The vast majority identify themselves as Christians. Most of the non-christians are nominal, non-religious, mormons, Jewish. The world says Americans are vastly diverse in religion, but that is false, we are clearly Christian.

5) Religious vitality and strength

When it comes to religious vitality and strength, mormon teenagers appear to have healthy balance of faith and life, then comes conservative protestant youths, mainline protestant teens, catholic, jewish, then non-religious.

6) The greatest influence

The single most important social influence on spiritual and religious lives is the parents. Stereotype, we think youth pastor, mentors, culture, grandparents, etc were influential, but it was the parents. This should influence how we do church.

Note: You might be the most dynamic influential pastor in the world, but the parents are still the key.

The strongest predictor of a child’s spiritual life will mirror what their parents spiritual life looks like.

7) Second greatest influence:

Supply side dynamic youth – the greater number of religious programs, relationships, activities, challenges, opportunities- the more vested they will be to remain in religious. When religious communities are not invested in youth, the youth are most likely not going to be invested in their faith. Churches will get back what they invest.

What should we do? Pleasantly overwhelm them.

Deep religious practice being mimicked. Parrot effect. Unreflective nature – apathy begets apathy.

Subjective consciousness level, youth understanding is very weak regarding faith. Most U.S. youth have a very difficult time explaining what they believe, what it means, and its implications. They reflect their parents. If their parents are biblical unreflectiven, that would be mimicked as well. For them religion is important but not a priority. Value but not invested.

When preaching or teaching. Repeat things over and over again. People do not listen. Boil everything down to a sentence. And repeat this sentence. Illustrate. Illustrate. Illustrate. Find something to get their attention.

Do you want to be a seminary professor or love people? Right exogesis but boring, or getting people attention with illustration with good theology? Jesus preached using parables, after parables. Make the text as alive as possible.

9) The religion of America reflected in the youth: MTD – Moralistic, Therapeutic, Deism.

This is the mainstream religious faith of the youth are individualistic, consumer, capitalistic society. Deistic – distant god with minimal involvement, but be moral. Moralism – be good to be happy. Therapeutic – focuses on one’s own subjective happiness. MTD is the religion of the day

10) Cultural and social forces shape their lives

Their lives are shaped by cultural and social forces of therapeutic individualism, mass consumerism, digital communication revolution, scientism, structural disconnect with world of adults, and the only connection with adults are adult problems like divorce,

11) Outcome: Religion makes a positive difference.

Despite religion is weak in subjective consciousness, most teens can hardly articulate coherent, unfocus background in social life, many cultural forces that try to undermine.

Observation that sizable and significant differences in a variety of life outcomes of religious teens in the U.S. Highly religious teens are doing more than non/less-religious teens. Religious life leads to better more constructive life contrary to the secular.
Conclusion

As adults, we need to look at children not as aliens. We need to look at the generation gaps as superficial differences. Contemporary youth have bought into the mainstream social system. They are well socialized to enjoy the consumerist benefits of U.S. society. Most problems and issues children face are directly linked to adult world problems. They cherish their relationships with the adult-world ties. They don’t need to be segmented out. Religious congregations have a unique role to strengthen ties between adults and teenagers. All need to be involved. Embracing youth. Your investments are not immediate, payoffs are not immediate.

Sources:

- Wade Clark – Group spiritual marketplace,

- Withnells – America religious diversity

- Christian Smith – Soul searching.